Toolholder



W. B. RETZ TOOLHOLDER Filed Dec. 12, 1946 T'IEH.

April 24,1951

INVENTOR M'Zlz'amfl. Ref/i;

W I ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 24, 1951 TOOLHOLDER William B. Retz,Plainvillc, Conn, assignor to The New Britain Machine Company, NewBritain, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application December 12,1946, Serial No. 715,817

' 12 Claims. (01. 29-106) My invention relates to tool holder and thelike, and in particular to improved means 00- operating with atoolholder for'directing coolant or lubricant on the work and the toolin the vicinity of cutting action. i It is an object of the invention toprovide an improved tool holder for lathes and other spindle machines. 1

It is another object to provide improved means for directing coolant orlubricant on the tool and on the work in a machine of the characterindicated.

It is a-more specific object to provide an improved cooling andlubricating means wherein coolant may be efficiently directed over theworking area without introducing special plumbing into the vicinity ofthe work or of the tool.

Another specific object is to provide improved means for continuouslydirecting coolant at an advancing cutting edge. 7

Other objects and various further features of the invention will bepointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from a reading ofthe following specification in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings. In said drawings:

tool holder incorporating features 01 the inventionthe holder is showncooperating with work held in the spindle of a lathe or similar machine;

Fig. 2 is a partially sectionalized side view of the tool holder andspindle of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating a modification of thetool holder of Fig. 1; and i Fig. 4 is a side view of the arrangement ofFig. 3.

Broadly speaking, my invention contemplates provision of afluid-communicating duct in a tool holder and having this ductcommunicate with suitable nozzle means in the tool-supporting end of theholder. The nozzle means may be built into and carried by the toolholder so as constantly to direct streams of coolant or lubricant atprecisely the working edges or surfaces of the tool and of the work. Inthe specific forms to be described. a fan-shaped spray may be directedfrom a relatively simple and compact nozzle built into thetool-supporting end of the holder, and this spray may be adjusted toimpinge upon the entire cutting edge of even a relatively wide cuttingedge. Novel means are also provided for the readily removable insertionof fluid couplings at the inlet end of the duct;

Referring to Figs. 1 and2 of the drawing, my invention is shown inapplication to a so-called side-tool holder for a lathe-type machinehaving v.aspindle 5 rotatably supporting a piece of work 2 6, whichmaybe of bar stock. The side-tool holder supports a relatively wide tool Iforlateral motion with respect to the stock 6. In the form shown, thetool holder includes a main body member 8 with suitable tool-supportingmeans at one end. The tool-supporting means may com prise fixed andadjustable jaw members'9l fl for adjustably securing a dovetail llformed in the tool I.

In accordance with the invention, the body member 8 is provided with aninternal fluid-communicating duct l2 having suitable means [3 forconnection to a source of fluid supply. The other end of. the ductterminates in nozzle means l4 for directing sprayed coolant or lubricantin the vicinity of the cutting action. In the form shown; the nozzlemeans I 4 provides a. relatively flat fan-shaped sheet of sprayed fluid,the sheet being so formed as to include substantially the entire cuttingedge of the tool. Since the cutting edge of the tool 1 is shown to beessentially straight, the fan-shaped spray produced by the nozzle I4 ispreferably designed to be substantially fiat.

To produce-a flat spraythe nozzle means l4 may comprise a flat portionl5 so formed on the body member 8 in they vicinity of the outlet for theduct i2 that a projection of the plane of the flat l5 will substantiallintercept the cutting edge of the tool i. Overstanding the fiat I5 is acap member it having a generally hollowed portion 5! communicating withthe outlet end of the duct i2 and open also along an extended edge,whereby the cap it and the flat l5 may cooperate to' define a slit-likeopening for producing a fan-shaped spray. The cap it may be secured tothe body member 8 by a screw is set generally normal to the plane of theflat I5; the screw l8 preferably passes through'the cap I S on the sideof the duct outlet away from the nozzle opening. It will be appreciatedthat with the arrangement described for securing the nozzle means I 4,the cap member may be angularly positioned about the axis of the screwis and that, in this manner, the general direction of the fan spray maybe adjusted as desired.

The supply pipe iii is preferably quickly removable from the inlet endof the duct I2. -In the form shown, ready removability is accomplishedby provision of an adapter [3 carriedby the pipe i9, andresilient meanscooperate between the adapter 13 and the body member 8 to hold the twoparts in interfitting relation. The adapter :3 may include a generallytubular .portion as slidingly. fitting within a counterbore .in

the inlet end of the duct 12, and a circumferentially extending enlargedportion 2i may be secured as by a set screw 22 to the tubular part 26.The resilient means for holding the adapter means l3 to the body member8 may comprise a strip 23 of springy or resilient material secured as byscrew means 24 to the body 8 and including a projecting latch portion 25for engagement with the far side of the enlarged portion 2i of theadapter l3. It will be appreciated that as the adapter !3 is inserted inthe counterbore at the inlet to the duct 12, the enlarged portion 25will engage the latch 25 to displace the same until it may resilientlylock against the far or back .side of the enlarged adapter portion 2i.To remove the pipe l9 and its adapter [3, a simple manual operation willserve to displace the latch 25 outwardly.

Referring now to the arrangement of Figs. 3 and 4, I show how aplurality oi; nozzles may be provided on a tool holder so as to direct apluof streams at the cutting area from difrent directions. In the formshown, the tool holder is again a side-working tool holder, and the toolhas been omitted from the drawing for purposes of clarity. As in thecase of 1 and 2 the tool holder of Figs. 3 and 4 comprises a bodyportion '26 having a fluid-communicating duct 21 therein, and work andtool-supporting means 28 at one end. On one side of the toolsupportingmeans a fan-shaped nozzle means 29 (as described in Figs. 1 and 2) maybe provided to direct a sheet or coolant at the cutting edge iromunderneath the tool-supporting means 0n the ct" er side a nozzle formedfrom a small length of pipe may be adapted to the body member 28 bysuitable couplings 3i; this nozzle pipe 39 may be bent so as also todirect coolant or lubricant on the work in the vicinity of the cuttingaction, but from the upper side of the tool-supporting means 2-8. Bothnozzle means 29 and 33 may communicate with the same supply duct 2? inthe body member 23, and inlet fluid may be supplied by a readilyremovable adapter uch as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be appreciated that I have described relatively simple means forconducting coolant or lubricant to the vicinity of cutting action in aturning machine and for providing eifective distribution of such coolantwith a simplifica tion of plumbing. With the invention no loose orflexible pipe members need be anywhere near the cutting area, and amaximum of free access to the tool and to the work is permitted foradjustment purposes. It is considered particularly advantageous that thecoolant nozzles be carried by the tool holder and that the coolantstreams may thus always be directed at the area of cutting action,regardless of the extent of advance of. any par icular cut; it will beunderstood that such is not the case in conventional arrangements inwhich the coolant is supplied from noz zles held by the frame of themachine.

While I have described my invention for the preferred forms shown, itwill be understood that modifications may be made within the scope ofthe invention as defined in the claims which fo1- low.

I claim:

1. In a tool holder or the like, a main body portion having afluid-communicating duct therein, connection means at the inlet end or"said duct for connection of said duct to a source of fluid supply,tool-supporting means on said body portion and independent of said duct,and a stream-deflecting member carried by said body portion andincluding a part overstanding the other end of said duct, saiddeflecting member being inclined to direct fluid from said duct into thevicinity of cutting action of a tool carried by said tool-supportingmeans.

2. In a tool holder, a main body portion having a fluid-communicatingduct therein, adjustable tool-supporting means on said body portion, oneend of said duct opening to the outside of said body portionindependently of said toolsupporting means, a stream-deflecting memberincluding a part overstanding said end of said duct, and adjustablesecuring means for securing said member to said body portion foradjustably directing fluid from said duct toward the working portions ofa tool adjustably held by said tool-supporting means.

3. In a tool holder, a body member having a fluid-communicating ducttherein, tool-supporting means on said body member, said duct opening tothe outside of said body portion near said tool-supporting means, and acap member carried by said body member over said end of said duct andcooperating with said body member to deline a nozze-lilre opening whichmay be directed toward the working portions of a tool held by saidtool-supporting means.

4. In a tool holder, a body member having a fluid communicating ducttherein, tool-supporting means on said body member, a fiat on said bodymember near said tool-supporting means, one end of said duct opening tosaid fiat, and a cap member including a portion fitting over said end ofthe duct, said cap member having a concave inner surface facing said endof the duct and opening on a side of the cap member in the direction ofa tool carried by said tool-supporting means.

5. In a tool holder, a body member having a fluid-communicating ducttherein, supporting means for a tool having a cutting edge extending insubstantially a single direction, said duct opening at one end to theoutside of said body member near said supporting means, and a cap memberover said end of the duct, said cap and body members cooperating todefine a generally fan-shaped outlet orifice for said duct, the plane ofthe fan shape of said outlet substantially including the cutting edge ofthe tool.

6. In a tool holder, a body member having a fluid communicating ducttherein, supporting means for a tool having a cutting edge, one end ofsaid duct opening to the outside of said body member near saidsupporting means, said body member at said end of the duct being formedwith a surface which if projected would include substantially the entirecutting edge of the tool, and a cap member over said end of the duct andincluding portions conforming to said surface of said body member, saidcap member having a hollowed-out generally fan-shaped portionoverstanding said end of the duct and opening toward the cutting edge ofthe tool, whereby said surface and said cap member may cooperate todirect a generally fan-shaped fluid spray directed at substantially theentire cutting edge of the tool.

'7. In a tool holder, a body member having a fluid-communicating ducttherein, one end of the duct opening to the outside of said body member,a flat on said body at said end of the duct, a cap member having ahollowed-out portion cooperating with said fiat to define a nozzle fordirecting a stream of fluid in the vicinity of cutting action of a toolcarried by said tool holder, and securing means for anchoring said capmember to said body member.

8. A tool holder according to claim 7, wherein said securing meansincludes a screw having an axis generally normal to said flat andpassing through said cap on the side of said end of the duct away fromthe hollowed-out portion of said cap, whereby the nozzle formed by saidfiat and said cap may be adjustably directed from said body member.

9. In atool holder, a body member having a fluid-communicating ducttherein, nozzle means at one end of said duct, adapter means tocooperate slidably with the inlet end of the duct, said adapter meansincluding an enlarged portion, and resilient means engaging saidenlarged portion and said body member for holding said adapter inlongitudinal abutment with said body member.

10. In a tool holder, a body member having a fluid-communicating ducttherein, nozzle means at one end of said duct, a counterbore at theother end of said duct, adapter means including a portion slidablyfitting in said counterbore and an enlarged circumferentially extendingportion, and resilient latch means carried by said body member forengaging said enlarged portion to hold said adapter means inlongitudinal abutment with said body member.

11. In a tool holder, a body member having a fluid-communicating ducttherein, connection means at the inlet end of said duct for connectionof said duct to a source of fluid supply, toolsupporting means on saidbody member,'first nozzle means carried by said body member on one sideof said tool-supporting means and communicating with said duct, andsecond nozzle means carried by said body member on another side of saidtool-supporting means and in communication with said duct, whereby fluidsprays may be directed at a plurality of sides of a tool carried by saidtool-supporting means.

12. In a tool holder, a body having a fluidcommunicating duct with anoutlet opening on the outside of said body, a cap member overstandingsaid outlet and cooperating with said body at said outlet to define adirectional nozzle, and means for adj ustably securing said cap memberin various angular positions, whereby the direction of the nozzle may beadjustably secured. WILLIAM B. RETZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 160,161 Clay Feb. 23, 1875302,292 Soderstrom July 22, 1884 591,120 Sherman Oct. 5, 1897 1,187,302Gorton June 13, 1916 1,425,943 Clarke Aug. 15, 1922

